TULUNGAGUNG – The Tulungagung Prison Iftar at Class IIB Correctional Facility in Tulungagung brought rare moments of reunion and emotion as dozens of inmates broke their fast with family members during Ramadan.
While dark clouds hovered over the prison complex on Tuesday afternoon (March 3), warmth filled the main hall inside. Neatly arranged floor mats lined the room, and homemade meal packages sat ready, waiting for sunset.
For a few hours, the high walls and iron bars felt less rigid. The prison administration allowed dozens of inmates to sit side by side with parents, spouses, siblings, children, and close companions in a special iftar gathering.
Among them was Muhammad Dian Setiawan, 25, a Tulungagung resident serving a five-year sentence. He has completed part of his term and still has 2.6 years remaining.
This Ramadan, however, felt different. He shared the iftar meal with his mother and two younger siblings.
As the eldest of three, Dian stayed close to his family throughout the event. His youngest sister sat beside him, occasionally laughing before hugging and kissing her brother’s cheek. Dian lifted her onto his lap, cherishing the moment.
“Moments like this may not come again,” he said softly.
When the Maghrib call to prayer echoed, the hall shifted from silence to emotional chatter. Families opened food packages, and the aroma of home-cooked dishes spread across the room.
Dian began eating, yet several times his little sister playfully fed him instead. Months of longing seemed to dissolve in that brief sunset reunion.
Rizzal Arbi Fanani, head of inmate development and work programs at the prison, said the Tulungagung Prison Iftar aims to strengthen family ties.
“Inmates deeply need communication with their families. Therefore, we organize this iftar gathering so relationships remain strong,” he said.
Officials recorded around 110 visitors that day, representing 70 inmate families. Each inmate could receive up to four visiting family members.
According to Rizzal, the event marked the 10th day of Ramadan. The prison plans to hold similar gatherings again on March 12 or March 14, pending approval from the prison warden.
During Ramadan, the facility schedules iftar gatherings twice a month, or once every 10 days of fasting.
Although the atmosphere felt warm and family-oriented, authorities maintained standard security procedures.
Officers conducted routine body and item checks before visitors entered the hall. The prison management also applied detailed risk mitigation measures to prevent any security breaches.
Through the Tulungagung Prison Iftar, officials hope to balance strict correctional discipline with emotional rehabilitation. For inmates like Dian, the evening offered more than a meal, it restored a sense of belonging, even if only for a few hours.